Partnership-in-Scholarship Grant Program announced

Thanks to funding from the Ford Foundation, the National Trust for Historic Preservation will be launching Partnership-in-Scholarship Grants to support collaborative projects between African American Historic Places and college/university scholars.

This year, four grants of $15,000 each (no match required) will be awarded in fall 2009 to projects that help sustain current or attract new audiences at historic sites or enhance the interpretation of challenging topics at historic sites. Eligible projects include:

• improving public access to African American historical and cultural resources at historic places,
  • Example: Convening an interdisciplinary team of historians and interpretive specialists to work with site staff to evaluate public programs, identify humanities themes for interpretation, develop strategies for interpreting difficult subjects, and outline short-term goals and objectives.
  • Example: Assessing the Site’s research materials in consultation with scholars and determine priorities for making them more accessible to scholars and students through the Internet.
• strengthening teaching and education at colleges and universities through historic places,
  • Example: Creating an internship for a graduate student to undertake a specific research project at an historic site that results in a public exhibit, lecture, or Web presentation.
• promoting research and original scholarship of a significant theme related to African American history and culture to support joint public programs,
  • Example: Retaining a consulting historian or interpretive specialist, once themes are developed, to draft a background paper on each of the Site’s major interpretive themes. These papers could be used in guide training, to guide public programming, or prepare pre-visit materials for teachers.
• providing opportunities for lifelong learning through a collaborative program,
  • Example: Developing and testing a cell-phone tour of the Site’s neighborhood in consultation with scholars, with an emphasis on interpreting the place in a regional or national context.
• strengthening each institution’s humanities programming in order to preserve, enhance, or enjoy significant African American historic places.
  • Example: Supporting a community event on topics relevant to the Site’s interpretation.
  • Example: Developing a program for a fourth grade field trip to the Site that incorporates current scholarship and the school district’s standards of learning.
  • Example: Working with graduate students to develop a Saturday morning workshop series for families that encourages participants to examine an historical event or person associated with the Site from different perspectives.
  • Example: Presenting a lecture or publication by a scholar on a humanities topic related to the Site.

Guidelines for the Partnership-in-Scholarship Grants are available online or through the NTHP Regional Office near you. National Trust Historic Sites and elementary and secondary schools are not eligible to apply. Deadlines for applications is September 30, 2009; applications will be available in July.